Captain Nathaniel James Spens
- Born: 3 Mar 1845, Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
- Baptised: 12 Apr 1845, Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
- Died: 14 Dec 1879, Asmai Heights, Kabul, Afghanistan aged 34
- Buried: 30 Dec 1879
 General Notes:
Batch # C119841 Source Call # 1066692, OPR, St. George's Parish Births and
baptisms, St John's Episcopal Church 1845; Attended Edinburgh Academy
1854-59, and Woolwich; he entered the army June 1864 and was gazetted to ensigney in the 72nd Highlanders and served in Great Britain and Ireland; he obtained his lieutenancy by purchase in June 1868, In 1871 he left Ireland to go to India; Promoted to Captain in 1878, volunteered to lead a party of N.I. against overwhelming odds; died in battle. "His conduct was so conspicuously gallant that Lord Roberts who witnessed the affair and his sad death, stated in despatches that he gallantly sacrificed his life in devotion to duty, and that no man was more deserving of the V.C. had he lived." Confirmations and Inventories 1880 Q941P2s p. 663, died testate, granted in Edinburgh to John Alexander Spens of Glasgow, recorded 18 Aug 1880;
Present at death of father--informant N.J. Spens, son.
house built by Wiliam Burn
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